April 7th 2005

Eileen and I are off to Las Vegas on Tuesday so the next newsletter will be on April 21st.

Our itinerary includes:
SHOWS:
Matsuri at The Riviera with 21 newsletter/forum members: Thanks to Jim from Destination Marketing for comping all 21 members!!!
Barry Manilow at The Las Vegas Hilton
Hairspray at The Luxor
Possibilities: Menopause and Dragapella
DINNING:
Embers at Imperial Palace
BB’s at The Riviera
Garden Of The Dragon–Las Vegas Hiton
Burger Bar at Mandalay Place
Bellagio Buffet
Sterling Brunch at Bally’s
Possibilities: Harrah’s, IP, Aladdin and Wynn buffets.
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Turner on the rebound in Las Vegas
By Jerry Fink

Earl Turner should not have to work so hard to entertain his fans, but then he wouldn’t be Earl Turner.

The dynamic performer has returned to Las Vegas after a sojourn to New Orleans that was filled with fortune - good and bad.

He had his own showroom at Harrah’s in the Big Easy, where he debuted in 2004 - after more than 15 years of performing in Las Vegas and Laughlin.

His wife and children were settling into their new home, their new community.

The world was wonderful.

More from the Las Vegas Sun here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/mar/30/566656355.html
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Vegas Values Report for 4/2/06

The below information is supplied by Scot Krause, our roving reporter, who supplies us each week with information on the best Las Vegas promotions. It’s only available here on the americancasinoguide.com web site so be sure to come back each Monday morning to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
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Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies

Tickets for the upcoming production of “Phantom of the Opera” at The Venetian will go on sale April 9, 2006 with prices ranging from $82 all the way up to $157 per person, which is in many ways scarier than a guy lurking around a theater in a mask. Anyway, the show is scheduled to offer preview performances on June 4 with the official opening slated for June 24. There will be ten shows a week with curtains going up at 7pm every day except Tuesday and an additional 10pm show on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman

Announced Monday was the May 27 date for Madonna’s appearance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets are $75, $175, $265 and $375 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MGM Grand box office or at ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are on sale for a live production of “The Price is Right” at Bally’s Jubilee Theatre. The price is set at $44. Unlike the TV show, at Bally’s every audience member (who is required to be age 21 or older to participate) is in the contest and plays by using interactive touch pads.

The show begins april 25 and runs Tuesdays through Thursdays at 2:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. (dark Mondays)
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes

The Review-Journal reports that Rita Rudner will move to Harrah’s in October. She’ll continue to perform at New York-New York until June, when she’ll leave to make room for a new NY-NY nightclub.

After formerly using its two poker rooms for high- and low-limit play, the Palms now designates one room smoking and the other non-smoking. The former is the only dedicated smoking poker room that we know of.
From The Las Vegas Advisor.

Proceeds from Celine Dion’s 500th performance of “A New Day” on May 7 will go to 10 local charities. Specially priced tickets are available at 1-877-4-CELINE, at www.ticketmaster.com (keyword “Celine Dion”) or at Caesars’ box office.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

Terrazza, a Caesars Palace Italian eatery for about 20 years, is closing on Sept. 1 and being replaced by Rao’s, a tiny New York hot spot with a big name. Word is Rao’s, a family operation in Harlem since1896, will open around Dec. 1.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

Planning a dinner out but need a menu to fit your budget? Erik Foubert has come up with an Internet version of the Las Vegas restaurant menu directory. Check it out at: www.menusearch.nethttp://www.reviewjournal.com

Plans are afoot for a $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace, with an announcement due in four or five months, street sources say. The new Augustus Tower already is increasing foot traffic and returns on investment in the casino, but scuttlebutt is that owner Harrah’s Entertainment is confident quality can be increased and more high rollers can be reeled in with a top-flight expansion. Caesars Palace has been a landmark on the Strip for 40 years, but insiders say you haven’t seen anything yet.
Article By Rod Smith
reviewjournal.com — Business - INSIDE GAMING

In honor of gaming’s worldwide expansion, Forbes recently published a list of the 13 hottest casinos worldwide. Of all the casinos in Las Vegas, only Wynn Las Vegas made the list. No. 1 was the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, a Kerzner International operation, and No. 2 was Borgata in Atlantic City, a joint operation between Boyd Gaming Corp. and MGM Mirage. Forbes selected the casinos based on design, location and availability of entertainment, lodging and dining options.
By Rod Smith–Las Vegas Review Journal

Hooter Casino Hotel’s poolside paradise hosts a three-day party every weekend. This Backyard BASH is filled with great food, drink specials, live entertainment, calendar girl signings, poolside contests and the opportunity to view a photo shoot/model search for the 2007 Hooters Calendar models (only active Hooters Girls are eligible). This is open to the public.

The Mirage has officially closed their Ava Lounge to make way for the up-coming Chicago restaurant concept Japonais. The modern-day Japanese restaurant comes to us from acclaimed designer Jeffrey Beers, restaurateurs Miae Lim and Rich Wahlstedt and chefs Jun Ichikawa and Gene Kato.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com

Lovers of Indian food are in luck as a fabulous new Indian restaurant, Origin India, has opened in the CVS plaza on Harmon and Paradise (yes, where the Rainbow B&G is).
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

Opening day for the new Red Rock Station is April 18th. To bad Station Casinos doesn’t provide shuttles anymore to their casinos.

Wynn Las Vegas’ new tower will be called “Encore.”

I haven’t mentioned this for a while but the buffets at the Bellagio and The Mirage have “Bar Seating.” If there is a long line, just tell the hostess you want to sit at the bar. There is usually always a seat.

Cheap Las Vegas Dinner Buffets:
The Plaza..$6.99
Jokers Wild..$6.99
Nevada Palace..$6.99

The cheapest dinner buffet:
Hacienda $5.99..Casino is located near Hoover Dam

Top Of The World at The Stratosphere now has a price fix menu. A 3-course dinner for two is $140.00.

The World’s Greatest Magic Show tickets now comes with a three-course dinner at Yanni’s. The show is fantastic and I have heard pluses and minuses for the restaurant.

The Westward Ho is no longer. Without notice, the hotel was leveled. I wonder if they saved some “Ho Dogs?”

Green Valley Ranch has Steak and Eggs special for $4.95. 11pm-11am Sunday-Thursday.

The Rio’s Masquerade Show has a new performance called “Rhythm Of The Night.”

Bally’s has a new show/dinner special. For every ticket purchased to “Jubilee” you now get a $30 dinning voucher good for 6 restaurants at Bally’s and Paris.

Flamingo Las Vegas is issuing commemerative gaming chips in honor of their 60th anniversary. The Flamingo is also issuing a $25 gaming chip featuring George Wallace on it.

The Sratosphere has opened up Naga Sushi and Asian Bistro.

The rumors are getting stronger that “The Producers” will find a home at Paris Las Vegas.

Also rumored to be heading back to Las Vegas is Charo.

College basketball champions, Florida were 25-1 to win the title.

The Golden Gate, Vegas Club, and Plaza hotel-casinos downtown are presenting a summer-long concert series at the Fremont Street Experience, featuring popular classic rock tribute bands. On July 12 Thunder Road pays homage to Bruce Springsteen, and on July 26 it’s Sticky Fingers with a Rolling Stones tribute. The free concerts are at 9p with a radio-hosted pre-party at 8p. Beer specials are available inside the hotels.
http://www.ilv.com/entertainment/

That rumored George Clooney-Brad Pitt rift is “a total fabrication, totally bogus,” says nightclub king Rande Gerber.

A celebrity Internet site reported Tuesday that Clooney and Pitt were on the outs because Pitt backed out of the $3 billion Las Ramblas resort project in Las Vegas.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

The Las Vegas Historic Museum at the Tropicana will close on April 22nd.

Rao’s, a legendary 100-year-old East Harlem Italian restaurant, is scheduled to open late this year at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The Silverton has opened a new buffet, Seasons. Its food stations include Italian, Asian, barbecue, seafood and desserts, the latter with a chocolate dipping fountain.

Soon-to-be Las Vegas headliner (she starts at the Las Vegas Hilton on May 3) Reba McEntire is going to host the “41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” telecast, it was announced Thursday. The show is set for May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“RIV IT UP” OPENS AT RIVIERA HOTEL AND CASINO
Song stylist/hostess Mary Jane Samoy brings her “Riv It Up” troupe of acrobatic merrymakers to the casino’s open center stage at the world-famous Riviera Hotel and Casino. Show are FREE daily at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 3:l5 p.m., and 4:45 p.m.

Las Vegas Hilton Player’s Club members who are 55+ find Tuesdays golden with 50% off breakfast or lunch at the buffet, free entry into the Hilton’s $2,000 55+ Golden Tuesdays Slot Tournament at 6 p.m. with chances to win cash, free show tickets and more. More details at the Player’s Club.

The Beatles playing in concert with a symphony orchestra? How would that sound? Do you want to know a secret? “The Classical Mystery Tour” - a tribute to The Beatles featuring original members of the Broadway sensation “BEATLEMANIA,” performs live in concert with a 42-piece orchestra at the Las Vegas Hilton May 28 at 9 p.m. The show presents some 20 Beatles tunes sung, played, and performed exactly as they were written. Tickets are $55 & $70 (plus tax and service charge) and go on sale April 8.

The Las Vegas Hilton will launch its weekly $10,000 Wheel of Winners beginning Thursday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. in its Spacequest Casino. Player’s Club members can earn entries into the $10,000 Wheel of Winners drawing by playing 40 minutes on either a slot machine or table game in one day. Five players will be chosen to spin the wheel for cash prizes up to $5,000 each week. More details at the Player’s Club.
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Brett’s Vegas Views

Next month, Las Vegas entertainer and television producer Tony Sacca will see his Las Vegas Musical Clock - Las Vegas Rocks™ become the city’s newest themed souvenir item. Sacca has created a new 10″ clock with a scene of the Las Vegas Strip on the face encircled by a roulette wheel for the numbers.

Every hour on the hour or when you clap your hands, the Las Vegas Strip lights up and plays the chorus of Sacca’s original song, “Las Vegas Rocks™.” The song was written to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his TV show, “Entertainment Las Vegas Style.” The sale price will be $39.95.

Two Playboy Playmates, Lauren Anderson and Barbara Moore, will be featured in the new adult revue, “Headlights & Tailpipes.” The show celebrates fast cars, motorcycles and women.

Anderson, originally from Milwaukee, was Miss July 2002, and chosen as a Playboy Playmate by Hugh Hefner through the Fox reality special, “Girl Next Door: Search for a Playboy Centerfold.” She’s been seen on numerous TV shows from “Fear Factor” to “25 Sexiest Music Videos of 2005,” and graced the covers of numerous magazines such as “Speed Magazine” and “Steppin’ Out.”

Moore is one of the most popular Playboy Playmate centerfolds to date. As a two-time U.S. National Pro-Am Ballroom Dance Champion, Moore is a multi-talented beauty who has garnered accolades nationwide for her dancing achievements. In addition, she is an actress who has been seen as a sexy “Fembot” in “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” and in music videos by Aerosmith and Hank Williams Jr.

Based on the popular television series, “The Soprano’s Last Supper” will be a two-and-a-half-hour interactive Italian dinner show that will open at KRAVE at the Aladdin on Thursday, April 6. The comedy-musical about ’60s and ’70s mobsters will have a cast of 20 spoofing them and live music by a three-piece ensemble. Show times will be 6 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday.

This dinner theater production and has been in existence for more than five years. It is currently operating in approximately 10 different markets across the East and West Coasts and is owned by Dillstar Productions.

Starting April 3, The Sirens of TI will start their summer schedule and perform free shows nightly at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. in Sirens’ Cove at the front of Treasure Island.

The free daily “Masquerade Show In The Sky” at the Rio has been paying tribute to the Rio De Janeiro’s Carnival celebration since 1997. Now “Rhythm of the Night” is a new performance being featured daily during the 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances of Masquerade Show In The Sky inside the Rio’s Masquerade Village.

The newest addition takes audiences on a fast-paced journey of global rhythms with energetic choreography, vibrant costumes and sexy Latin flair. Giant maracas, colorful conga drums, and a giant tambourine bring the stage to life.

Louie Anderson has opened his “Larger Than Life” show at the Excalibur for an indefinite run. Comedy Central recently named Anderson, “One of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.” Performances run Tuesday-Sunday at 7 p.m. For reservations, call 702-597-7600.

The Riviera’s Hawaiian Luau Dinner and Show featuring the group Hot Lava will be taking place weather permitting most Wednesdays and Saturdays through June 14, minus seven dark days. The outdoor parties will be located on the second deck above the casino. Tickets are $60.72 inclusive, call 702-794-9433.

Earl Turner has been performing in Las Vegas for more than 15 years and he’s always had an enthusiastic following because he faithfully produces incredibly super-energetic shows. He backs his talented efforts with a fabulous seven-piece that he proudly highlights throughout the show. Catching a performance with his son singing and dancing in it is an added plus for sure.

Turner always the optimist was headlining in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. He was instantly out of work so he migrated back home to Las Vegas and reunited his band. The results are a show not-to-be-missed. Turner is shaking up audiences at the Sound Trax at Palace Station on West Sahara, Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. and also at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $34.95 plus taxes, call 702-547-5300.

Having seen “Dragapella!” at the Westin over the past couple years, it was obviously a matter of time before some hotel booked them indefinitely. Who would have thought that this tremendously original award-winning, all-male, a cappella beauty shop quartet would get started in 1993 when as a group of friends they went to a Bette Midler concert in San Francisco, dressed as the Andrews Sisters? Afterwards, the foursome calling themselves The Kinsey Sicks™, named for the top end of sexologist Alfred Kinsey’s scale of sexual orientation, discovered that they could harmonize professionally.

From the second you lay eyes on the high-heeled, fashion divas of hairdo don’ts, you realize this show will be “over the top.” The satire is exceedingly sharp and so are the original lyrics. The quartet has produced five music CDs with titles that prove this is a one-of-kind-group: “Dragapella!,” “Boyz2Girlz,” “Sicks in the City,” “I Wanna Be A Republican,” and “Oy Vey in a Manger: Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music.” Now The Kinsey Sicks are subjects of two impending feature films.

As shocking as the group is, the fascination begins with the fact that the original member Ben Schatz, who plays Rachel, is a Harvard-trained civil rights Lawyer and Irwin Keller playing Winnie is a University of Chicago-trained lawyer and linguist. The other two characters, Trampolina and Trixie are portrayed by actors/singers Chris Dilley and Jeff Manabat.

Tickets for this fun and fascinating show presented Tuesday-Saturday at 9:30 in the Shimmer Cabaret are $42.50 plus tax and fee; call 7o02-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art will present a display featuring nearly 50 masterworks by American photography’s most recognized figure, Ansel Adams. The exhibition entitled “Ansel Adams: America,” which will be on view from May 3, 2006 to May 6, 2007, will include a collection of legendary artworks based on a selection personally chosen by Adams before his death.

Included among the works he considered iconic images of his epic career are: Monolith, Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California (1927), Rose and Driftwood, San Francisco (ca. 1933), Aspens, Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado (1937), The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (1942), and a rare image of Boulder Dam (1941).

These works trace four decades of Adams’ experimentation with black and white photography.

Important selections from Adam’s archive will also be on view. Among them: album pages of some of Adams’ earliest photographs (1916), the 8 x 10 Kodak camera Adams used to create his iconic photographs, an album of negatives from 1932, Adams’ Swiss compass used on his photographic expeditions, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to Adams by President Carter in 1980, and personal correspondence from some of the most noted figures of the twentieth century. Complementing these objects will be a series of historical photographs from 1903 to 1983 that will serve as a visual biography of Adams’ life.

This show will be the first major exhibition in Las Vegas dedicated to one of the masters of fine art photography. Tickets will be $15 and $12 for students and seniors over 65. Audio-guides are included in the admission price; call 702-693-7871 or 877-957-9777.

The Silverton situated off I-15 will debut its new fine dining buffet, Seasons, this week on Thursday, April 6. Seasons will serve classic and exotic cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch. The restaurant will have a large dining room for 365 guests and a private dining room and VIP area. Seasons will also offer fire and water features, music and Plasma screen televisions throughout the rooms.

Seasons will serve breakfast for $7.99; lunch for $8.99; dinner for $13.99; specialty dinner for $16.99; and specialty brunch for $13.99. Children under three will dine free and children between ages four to six will eat for half price. For information, call 702-263-7777.

The Las Vegas Hilton has just opened its 888 Noodle Bar, located in the heart of Benihana Village. The Pan-Asian menu features noodles, congee, and rice dishes prepared in an exhibition kitchen as you watch. Menu items include appetizers, soups and salads (from $7 to $9) and entrees (from $10 to $28). Authentic Asian noodles are comprised of such popular varieties as Singapore, Udon, Szechuan and Chow Mein. 888 Noodle Bar is open nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Isla Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar will celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year with specialty beverages, a live mariachi band and nationally known chef / creator Richard Sandoval on hand to cook guests’ meals personally. The Tequila Goddess will be crafting the perfect margarita tableside.

The Fab Five, stars of Bravo’s Emmy Award-winning original series “Queer Eye,” are currently filming three special episodes in Las Vegas to give the sloppiest straight guys on the Strip a “make-better.” Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley and Jai Rodriguez are busy preparing a fun loving couple for their fairy-tale elopement and helping both a magician / fire-eater and renown poker-player transform their lives for the better. The episodes are scheduled to air in early June.

The Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton, home of “Menopause The Musical®” and The Kinsey Sicks in “Dragapella,” has now added themed dance nights to its late night 11 p.m.-3 a.m. schedule: Wednesday is Latin Dance Night; Thursday is ’80s Dance Night; Friday is Disco Dance Night; and Saturday is ’80s-90s Dance Mix.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
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Feature Article: Slots 2006 — Part 4
By Gayle Mitchell

Variety, entertainment value, innovative sound technology and downloading your favorite game are some of the concepts presented in the new line-up of slots.
Penny slots, similar to last year, continue to lead the parade of the new slot selections.

This 4 Part Series covers 8 slot manufacturers, their individual creations and/or slot series.

Additionally, there is great news for slot players in that the majority of these newer versions will be available in casinos within months.

One of the most exciting innovations, in my opinion, is downloadable technology.
This concept involves a central server that permits a casino to download various slot machine games from an equipment provider and reconfigure game content quickly.
The current download offerings of individual slot makers are reported in this series.
It does wear my patience, however, as it is not expected to arrive before 2007.

Part 4 presents the slot manufacturers Williams (WMS) and Progressive Gaming.
WMS Industries Inc. debut a full line of new product offerings featuring 83 new games. These new game themes represent the highest number of new game introductions in WMS’ history and the new offerings address all of the product lines typically featured on a casino’s slot floor: 17 new multi-line, multi-coin video slot games, including 4 new games for the Company’s new Hot Hot Penny series of low denomination games and 35 mechanical reel games including three-, four-, and five-reel offerings.

The four new games for the Hot Hot Penny series will be King of Africa, Gem Hunter, Blue Lagoon and Star of India. Hot Hot Penny is WMS’ new low-denomination franchise of games that offers players a high level of volatility as they receive more free spins more often.

New Mechanical Reel Games and Technology
WMS has four innovative bonusing concepts - Color Dotmation, Can’t Lose, Scroll Top and Ring Series.

For its latest new bonusing concept, Mega Multiplier, WMS will introduce four new game themes - Double Horseshoes, Hot Hot 777, Charming Cherries and Triple Treat. Every time the Mega Multiplier symbol lands on the payline, a multiplier value is added to the meter on the Mega Multiplier button.

When the player presses the Mega Multiplier button, they are awarded a guaranteed winning combination multiplied times the Mega Multiplier amount.

Progressive Game Offerings
Powerball series of progressive slot machines will make its debut with four original themes - two, four-reel mechanical reel games and two, five-reel video games.
Each Powerball progressive gaming device includes WMS’ new 3×3 Matrix Progressive technology offering nine levels of local-area progressive jackpots where players can win more than one progressive jackpot with one wager.
This feature includes a 10th progressive jackpot, a wide-area progressive (WAP) jackpot with up to a $1 million reset.

Progressive levels are marked as red, white and blue across the top and Mega Super and Grand on the side. When the Powerball bonus appears, a reel spinning or video sequence awards one prize or more.

Other new progressive games making their debut this year include Green Acres, based on the popular television series and featuring bonus rounds of Haystack Bonus and Hot Cake Bonus, plus a new Top Gun series, based on the hit feature film.
Top Gun features advanced 3D graphics-enhanced bonus rounds and will introduce a Bose Free Field II directed audio system.

The Company’s second WAP jackpot series, which is based on movie characters played by acclaimed actor Clint Eastwood, will be supplemented with two new games.

First, Dirty Harry, the San Francisco detective character, features both video and mechanical reel games. Dirty Harry has two bonus rounds-Make My Day Bonus and Do You Feel Lucky Bonus. The second video game is Bronco Billy.

Also, six new game themes will debut for the Company’s recently launched 5-reel video Jackpot Party Progressive offering.

Avoiding the ‘party poopers’ or ‘Collect” symbol is the name of the game in Jackpot Party and this new version will draw a crowd by an overhead display to watch the multi-level awards.

Two other advantages are locating a star symbol that announces one of four progressive wins plus the bonus wins are higher when you wager more coins per line.

Non-Linked Participation Game Offerings
Continuing a successful run that spans more than seven years and over 20 game themes, WMS will leverage the tremendous popularity of Monopoly-branded games with a unique gaming concept that brings a communal gaming experience to the slot floor. Monopoly Big Event is the first slot game where everyone playing in the bank of games participates in the bonus round and they all win together, creating the excitement of a table game experience on a slot machine.

In addition, one new Monopoly game titled Shake, Rattle, & Roll displays juke box icons that trigger the Rock ‘N Roll Bonus free spin round doubling all jackpots.
New titles for the already popular participation series will debut, including Men In Black - Galactic Payback and two new themes for the Hollywood Squares series - Center Star Wild and One for the Fans.

WMS will also premier three new titles of the Company’s dual screen video line including games based on the popular Love Boat and You Bet Your Life television series. Two mechanical top box bonus branded game themes are Beat the Clock and Match Game.

New Video Poker Products
WMS new video poker products will include a multi-set of traditional poker games which will be the first games launched using the World Series of Poker brand.
World Series of Poker has an exciting bonus feature where players simulate participation in the final table of the world series of poker event.

Players bet an additional five credits/hand during video poker play to qualify for the WSOP bonus. A randomly selected winning hand (Jacks or Better) sends the poker player to the Final Table Bonus. Surrounded by cartoon challengers, the player is allowed four folds in the tourney as in an actual hold ‘em game.

If the player wins in the end, the bonus credits can be as high as 3500 coins.
In addition, the company will introduce its new Tower Poker video poker game, which offers players a multi-hand game that allows players to maximize winning hands.
Finally, WMS will be previewing the Company’s solution to address the next cycle of gaming innovation - server-based gaming. WMS will demonstrate to customers its WAGE-NET innovative technology that is focused on game play enhancement for players.

WMS engineers and game developers have established a well-earned reputation for developing new features and game concepts that capture the attention of slot players.

Progressive Gaming International, formerly Mikohn:
Downloadable games named Game Station are the wave of the future for this slot manufacturer. Game Station can input content of possibly 100 new games to terminals.

Their lofty goal is a library of 1000 titles complete with a central server to be delivered to your favorite casino.

The exciting choices for slot players will be wide-ranging–game themes, sounds, symbols and denominations.

A short list of available titles includes the nostalgic sounds of the Beach Boys accompanying the slots games of California Girls, Surfer Girl and Surfin’ Safari.
Dick Clark steps forward again with Rock and Roll Remember along with his buddy Ed McMahon’s offering of Millionaire Madness.

More good time rock ‘n roll is captured with the 20 line slot KISS where bonus rounds mesh with the popular band’s famous music.

Progressive Gaming is riding a wave that is sure to entice slots players seeking excitement and variety in the games they love to play.

There is always a welcome mat out to new subscribers.
I encourage you to invite your family and friends to join us
TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: CasinoPlayers-on@mail-list.com
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Slot Reviews by Gayle Mitchell

Reviews are listed by Slot Name, Manufacturer, average hit frequency and payout range offered, (low to high) if information is available.

1) Time for Money: Atronic 2 spins. 86-94%.
Time Travel back and forward as in the 19th century and 28th century is the theme for this slot. Two bonus rounds await you.

First, the Take or Risk feature begins when three or more Time Wheel symbols arrive on the middle three reels and change to credit amounts.

You are asked to take it all or re-spin the wheels for more.
Secondly, the bonus round of Time Catcher occurs when three or more Time Device symbols land anywhere on reels 1, 3 or 5. Again, the symbols change into credits and you choose one reel for a bonus spin.

The main event, Time Gate Bonus begins when three Time Gate symbols appear in the pay window. Do you want the time period of 19th or 28th century?

If you choose 19th, you are transported to an array of 1800’s symbols and are in for as many as 20 free games with all wins doubled.

If you choose 28th, you are transported to a futuristic ‘Buck Rogers’ scene.
This choice allows the player to a ‘Spin As Long As You Win’ round.

As long as winning combos continue to land, the free spins continue for possibly hundreds of free games.

The top jackpot at 125,000 credits for five Priest and/or Priestess symbols will not only stretch your travel time but your gambling bankroll too.

2) Blazing 7’s Five Reel: Bally. 5 spins. 87-97%

More Blazing 7’s, the better I say!
This slot takes the basic game and expands it to a 5-reel format allowing larger jackpots and a higher hit frequency with the addition of 2 reels.

Another bonus feature is that rather than 5 coins max, betting four coins will trigger all the combinations this game has to offer, therefore betting less will not gather huge wins.

For example, playing quarters, 3 Blazing 7’s lined up just right results in a 1000 credit win. Four=$500 and Five=a big hit of $5000.

While awaiting these generous paydays, there are other winning combinations offered.

100 coins for three red 7’s, 500 coins for four 7’s and 1000 coins for five 7’s.
There are more than 7 reasons to ‘blaze your trail’ for this popular series of slots.
3) Wizard Ways: Aristocrat. 2 spins. 87-92%

Wizard Ways is another Reel Power video slot where you wager a certain amount to trigger each reel and all wins are paid as scatter jackpots combos of symbols no matter where they land. Therefore, there are 243 possibilities on every spin.
Similar to Money Honey, there are four bonus events and the player selects one. Those selections include Match a Prize-selecting squares for a match and bonus reward; Build a Prize and Barrel Prize are ’tile for bonus credits’ events and lastly, Free Games rewards with free spins for up to 25X your per reel bet.
To enter this selection process, you must play all five reels and play another 10 credits as the ante wager.

Wizard Ways sports a Globe wild symbol that upon landing on the second and fourth reels will double the jackpot and a quad jackpot is yours if this wild symbol lands on both reels.

With the multitude of winning ways, Wizard Ways is the way to go.
http://www.easycasinogambling.com/ezine.html
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World’s First Hooters Casino Hotel Takes Flight In Las Vegas

What began in 1983 as an impulsive idea between six friends – eventually growing into a wildly successful international restaurant chain and even airline – will soon make history with its biggest HOOT yet: the opening of
the world’s first Hooters Casino Hotel in Las Vegas on Friday, February 3, 2006.

Surprisingly affordable and conveniently located one block from the Las Vegas Strip, the Florida-casual resort features the famous Hooters Restaurant décor, including tin ceilings and cedar wood throughout the entire 30,000 square foot casino (15 miles of cedar to be exact). Each of the 696 guest rooms are also “Hooterized” with matching cedar headboards and armoires, and a high-top cocktail table with four bar stools. When the doors swing open on February 3rd, the property will offer a hooterific mix of dining, gaming and entertainment options, with the biggest attraction, of course, being the more than 200 beautiful Hooters Girls employed as cocktail and restaurant servers, bartenders, dealers and more.

“We couldn’t be more eager to introduce Hooters Casino Hotel to the world on February 3rd,” said Richard Langlois, Senior VP Marketing for Hooters Casino Hotel. “From the moment guests enter at The Lobby Bar, till they’re partied out and heading to their fully Hooterized hotel rooms, we know they’ll have an unforgettable experience.” Langlois added, “We’ve packed this casino with incredible dining and entertainment venues, unique promotional offerings, 24/7 party action, more than 200 of the world’s most beautiful Hooters Girls, and most
importantly, a lot of nostalgia. Whether guests grew up visiting Hooters Restaurants or Pete & Shorty’s, watching Dan Marino on the field or Alan Kulwicki on the race course, we know we have something special here that will spark a lot of great memories. And with our exceptional, friendly service and unbeatable value, we know we’ll have people coming back here again and again.”

Wings And Things
Of course, the property wouldn’t be complete without its very own casual, beach -themed Hooters Restaurant serving up the “nearly world famous” chicken wings among many other menu items. It is also the first Hooters Restaurant to offer a full bar. And for those that just can’t get enough, Hooters wings are available for delivery to every guest room.

Also on property is the sports fan’s favorite, Pete & Shorty’s Book & Bar, where guests can dive into burgers and a ballgame on its many plasma screens and TVs; The Dam Restaurant, a 24-hour dining café and mealtime buffet (the perfect spot for late-night munchies); and The Lobby Bar, located at the main entrance, making parties happen the moment guests enter the casino (what else would one expect from Hooters?). The Bait Shoppe – featuring a fresh sushi bar – injects the Hooters energy and style into the dramatic tropical pool area complete with waterfalls, palm
trees and cabanas. Also making its Las Vegas debut is the neighboring Dan Marino’s Fine Food and Spirits, dishing out fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks and much more.

A Hootin’ Good Time
“13” Martini Bar will shake (and stir) guests up a bit with its new movement in
class, sophistication and fun. Headed by world-class musicianship, the club’s eight -piece band is comprised of a four-piece rhythm section, two horns and both male and female lead vocalists. The band plays seven nights a week (from 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., DJ from 1:30 a.m. until close) offering sounds from the likes of Earth, Wind, and Fire and R. Kelly all the way to Nelly and the Black-Eyed Peas, in a strong mix of R&B, funk, jazz fusion, the classics, and today’s top 40s.

Casino Center Stage will offer “memorable tunes with soulful tones.” The show reverberates an eclectic vibe and is comprised of a lead male vocalist backed by a four-piece band. From legendary crooners like Ray Charles and James Taylor to top hits of Coldplay and Maroon 5, the music will have toes tappin’ and fingers strummin’ - seven nights a week from 4 - 9 pm.

Porch Dogs will have hands clappin’ and tails waggin’ with its all request Dueling Guitars and Pianos show featuring non-stop entertainment that includes a rowdy, roof-raising, (and a bit) raunchy party. Nightly staff and audience participation will accompany unforgettable world-class guitar, piano, and drum talent. The Caribbean-themed casual indoor-outdoor club opens into the world-renowned Hooter’s Restaurant as well as our poolside paradise, so wings, beer and beautiful Hooters Girls are never far. Both shows take place seven nights a week. Dueling Guitars from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Dueling Pianos from 11 p.m. - 2 a.m.; DJ from
2 a.m. to close nightly. Porch Dogs accepts reservations for front-table seating.

In March, Nippers Pool Bar will make its debut as the place to “see and be seen.” Guests will be swept away by the tantalizing acoustical reggae music at Nippers Pool Bar as they melt to the tropical sounds of steel pan drums, reggae grooves and famous sing-along songs from Jimmy Buffett to Bob Marley (to name a few). Nippers Pool Bar and bikini-clad Hooters Girls will welcome guests for live entertainment Monday through Sunday, from 12 - 5 p.m. (weather permitting).

Play Hard Or Go Home
When guests are ready to get their game on, Hooters Casino Hotel has got the goods. From one of the best player’s clubs in town and the grooviest new slots and video poker, to our rockin’ table games, they’ll have no problem finding action (don’t take that the wrong way). Add a hot sports book, a cool live poker room and keno that is so alive, they’ll have fun no matter what.

Hooters Casino Hotel has approximately 670 of the latest and greatest machines available along with all the favorites including Megabucks™, Wheel of Fortune™ and Monopoly™. Add in our “Exclusively Hooters” slots like “Blazing Hooters,” and “Calendar of Cash”, featuring bikini-clad Hooters Calendar Girls, and it’s a winner! When feeling lucky, guests can take a shot in Loot-a-Palooza, the high-limit slot area with great games and Hooters Girl hostesses.

Hooters Casino Hotel has 32 favorite table games to keep the action going all day, including Blackjack, Craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, Roulette, Pai-Gow Poker, Let It Ride and Keno (play for a $50,000 purse while dining or drinking, by the pool and even in-room). Whether new to the game or an old pro, our friendly dealers will help guests have the time of their life. Did we mention we’ll have a Hooters Calendar Girl Party Pit? Our low limit and no limit (when available) Hold ‘Em games will put guests to the test … just try counting cards when a favorite Hooters Calendar Girl is dealing!

And, each month, the calendar’s featured Hooters Girl will be at the hotel for 10 days to hang-out with guests, participate in ClubOrange promotions, sign Hooters calendars and much more. Curious if this month’s gal is worth the special visit? Just take a look on the table games in the “Hooters Calendar Girl Party Pit” to see a picture of that month’s model. Or of course, you could just turn the page in the Hooters calendar hanging on your wall …

ClubOrange – The Only Juice You’ll Need
Hooters player’s club – appropriately named ClubOrange - is free to join and offers juicy benefits to its members:

Earn complimentary dollars that can be redeemed for room, food, beverages and merchandise

Receive invitations to special events at the casino

Earn a 20 percent discount on logo merchandise and spa services

Get the best rate – guaranteed – and tower room upgrades

Room Service
Our standard room is anything but. Imagine a beach house in the middle of the desert infused with fun-loving Hooters Calendar Girls … get the idea? Our rooms are comfortable, casual and cool to hang out in with all the amenities one would expect, including high cocktail tables and stools for entertaining. Those who take it up a notch and spring for a suite will have even more room to stretch out and relax in, not to mention a private Jacuzzi

Cha-Ching (And Chicken Wings)
Average room rates at Hooters Casino Hotel are approximately $110.00 per night, and top dinner checks ring in around $45.00. The resort’s more than 200 gorgeous Hooters Girls add to the atmosphere at no extra charge.

(Hooters) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Hooters Girls are college students, working parents, models and other women
who enjoy making money while having fun. They are the all-American girl, and they’re famous. Hooters Girls appear on trading cards, calendars, magazines and television, and at sporting events, charity functions and community gatherings. There are more than 15,000 Hooters Girls worldwide, and we’ve brought the best, brightest and most beautiful to Hooters Casino Hotel.

Get Sweaty, Get S.A.S.S.Y
Hooters Casino Hotel will offer S.A.S.S. (Salon and Spa Services) and a fully equipped health club. S.A.S.S. is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and offers luxuriating facials, massages, manicures and pedicures; in addition to expertly performed hair color and perms treatments, haircuts and more. Hooters health club is also open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The club welcomes guests at all fitness levels with state-of-the-art exercise equipment (many with individual flat screen TVs, complemented by several large flat screen TVs on display), and traditional free weight and stretching areas.

Hooters Hot (Wing) Line
Everybody wants VIP status. And it’s even better when the person treating you as a VIP looks like Hooter’s “Miss February.” We’re gonna let you in on a little secret of how this seemingly impossible dream can become a reality. The next time the insatiable Vegas urge strikes, simply head to the nearest Hooters Restaurant*; grab a beer and a wing; pick up the delightfully tacky Hooters phone labeled “Casino Connection;” and plan your trip to Vegas. With one call, you’ll be directly connected to a Hooters Casino Hotel reservation agent, instantly classified as “VIP
status” and on your way to Hooters’ version of paradise. Did we mention the bikini-clad Hooters Girls out by the pool? More than 80 restaurants currently offer the Casino Connection, and even more will be installed in 2006. And if bikini-clad Hooters Girls aren’t incentive enough, you’ll also receive guaranteed lowest room rates, tower room upgrades and a “VIP Perks Package” by booking through Casino Connection.

* Casino Connection is currently available in the following areas: Southern
California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Chicago.

The Hoot-Ovators
Hooters Casino Hotel is a collaborative effort between four of the original six founding fathers of the Hooters Restaurant chain, 115 East Tropicana, LLC (the former owner and operator of the Hotel San Remo), and a Hooters franchise group from Florida.
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SHOW REVIEW: ‘Hairspray’

Throwing Its Weight Around: ‘Hairspray’ practically forces audience members to have fun.
By Mike Weatherford

A song in “Hairspray” called “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” celebrates the joys of plus-sized gals who aren’t afraid “to throw (their) weight around.”

Beyond its face value, you can thank two of the actors singing the song — Harvey Fierstein and Fran Jaye — for throwing enough weight into the Broadway musical to keep it from floating away.

The Luxor’s new production of the Broadway hit is so impeccably produced that it hits the wall only with the limits of the musical as written, one that tries so hard to be fun that it eventually forgets about everything except trying to be fun.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Feb-17-Fri-2006/weekly/5886520.html
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‘Avenue Q’ dead-ends
City’s ‘Broadway West’ image takes a hit.

By Jerry Fink and Jeff Simpson

In the end, maybe what “Avenue Q” needed to be a hit in Las Vegas was acrobats diving into a pool, some pyrotechnics unleashed against a driving soundtrack, a less American-centric script dealing with topics less weighty than racism - and maybe a few showgirls. Yeah, more showgirls - that’s the ticket.

But the Tony Award-winning musical direct from Broadway had none of those staples of the Las Vegas spectacle - and ended up selling far fewer tickets at the 1,200-seat Wynn Las Vegas theater than producers and Steve Wynn had hoped.

And so Wynn this week decided to cut the strings to the adult-themed puppet show, deciding that his theater is a much too valuable piece of real estate to continue to house a production that is only modestly successful.

The planned May 28 closing of “Avenue Q,” only nine months after its much-touted Sept. 9 debut, is perhaps less important for what it says about the show than for what it reveals about what works - and doesn’t work - in theaters on the Strip.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2006/feb/16/566614402.html
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John Katsilometes connects the dots that led to the Hilton having one of the hottest shows in town.

It’s a miracle, come true.

Maybe not, given Barry Manilow’s multiplatinum track record. In any case the Las Vegas Hilton is hot (hot! we tell you) following news that Manilow’s new album, “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties,” is No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Hilton spokesman Ira David Sternberg says ticket sales have picked up “across the board” and the hotel is benefiting from the unique mix of a star headliner, committed to a single showroom, riding the momentum of a No. 1 album.

“It’s not as if he’s touring all over the country. There’s no where else to find him but here,” Sternberg said. Manilow returned to the stage Wednesday night; his one-year Hilton anniversary WAS Feb. 23. “He’s at one venue, and he’s at that venue for an extended period of time.”

Also announced Wednesday, Rhino Entertainment has teamed with Manilow and Stiletto New Media to market Manilow’s performances on DVD. First up is “Manilow: Music and Passion,” which WAS released on March 28.

Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
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What Happend To All The Cheap Hotel Rooms In Vegas? The Shrinking Middle Market. By Hunter Hilegas.

For years and years, many travelers equated cheap rooms, shrimp cocktails and showgirls with Las Vegas. Hotel rooms under $100 per night were available all up and down the Strip - not just from the Northern cluster of older hotels. As recently as 1999 it wasn’t uncommon to be able to book at room at Bellagio for $140/night on weekends.

No longer.

These days, rates for standard rooms have increased and former mid-level properties have been renovated and re-branded in an attempt to convert them to the higher end. Forget about Strip rates under $100 on weekends and don’t be freaked out if your sub-par room at the Luxor costs $249.

What happened? Is this bad for the city? Is Las Vegas still a deal? More after the jump.

More of Hunter’s article here:
http://www.ratevegas.com/blog/2006/03/what_happened_t.html
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Review Recap: South Coast Buffet, Pete & Shorty’s, and Tao Nightclub by Rick Garman

A recent Las Vegas trip took me to a few places that while worthy of your notice are not the kind of places that deserve the types of full-fledged reviews that I do for this column and my website. So instead, I’m going to give you three miniature reviews in one easy package of a buffet, a restaurant, and a nightclub. The buffet in question is the South Coast Garden Buffet, another example of how if you’re looking for the good, relatively inexpensive buffets, you’re going to have to go off The Strip.

Located at the South Coast hotel a few miles south of Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Boulevard, the South Coast is the latest entry from Coast Casinos, the company that brought you Orleans and Suncoast among others. I mention this only because the buffet at South Coast is remarkably similar to the buffets at those outlets, which is to say good, comparably cheap, and a little unmemorable.

It’s a big open barn of a room (much like the casino it adjoins) seating over 600 people in a pleasant if not terribly imaginative garden setting. And by garden setting I really just mean some plants and a few foliage themed prints here and there. If you want a beautiful buffet room go to Wynn or Main Street Station.

There are six live-action cooking stations where you can have various menu items cooked to your specification. All of the usual buffet suspects are here including salads, desserts, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, seafood, and good old American staples including a carving station. Nothing I sampled was knock-my-socks off terrific but it was all good, very well prepared and presented, fresh, and flavorful.

With breakfast running around $6, lunch just over $7, brunch from $8-12, and dinner ranging from $13 for the standard version to $17 for the all-you-can-eat seafood night, you’ll be paying significantly less than you will on The Strip for food that in all but a few instances is just as good.

If you’re not in a buffet mood for lunch, you might want to try out Pete & Shorty’s at the Hooters Hotel Casino just off The Strip. It’s a small joint – part bar, part diner, and part sports book oddly enough, but they have an interesting menu of bar food that I wanted to check out, mainly because of an item they call the Loose-Meat Pete.

I grew up in Iowa and there is a delicacy in the region called the Maid-Rite – crumbled ground beef that is seasoned and steamed, slapped on a bun, and served to the cholesterol loving crowds. If you watched the show “Roseanne” you’ll remember the episode where the family tried to reproduce the flavor of a loose-meat sandwich and eventually opened their own restaurant serving the concoctions. That was based on the Maid-Rite and while they may have had success on a fictional TV show, I’ve never found anyone who has been able to make the sandwiches taste the way the originals do.

Unfortunately that extends to Pete & Shorty’s. If you’ve never had a Maid-Rite you’ll be disappointed in their version but everyone else may want to check it out because it was darned good.

The rest of the menu consists of hamburgers, other sandwiches (pork tenderloin, BLT, etc.) and a couple of desserts plus their “famous” Shorty Burgers,” mini-patties on mini-buns that can be purchased individually for $1.50 or in multi-burger packages.

The prices are a little on the high side for anywhere but a restaurant in Las Vegas, with burgers in the $5-7 range and sandwiches from $6-8 (with things like cheese and fries extra). That’s a bargain compared to other restaurants in the vicinity but it may come as a shock for those expecting the kinds of costs you’d normally expect to pay for this type of food.

Finally, a quick review of the nightclub Tao at The Venetian. This place opened last year and has become one of THE hotspots of the moment. I know there is only supposed to be one THE hotspot but this is Vegas and the normal rules don’t apply. Tao is the kind of joint where you may be able to do some celebrity spotting if you can get close enough to the private booths and VIP areas where they congregate.

I’m calling the theme post-apocalyptic Communist China and I swear my memory of the place was like a scene from those movies where the hero gets slipped a “micky” and is trying to get out of the Bangkok nightclub before the bad guys find him, so he stumbles through the club and everywhere he looks emotionless women with severe black bobs look at him as if through a fish-eye lens and take long drags on cigarettes in holders while a strobe light flashes and techno music with angry men growling lyrics in German raves in the background.

The multi-level facility features a restaurant and lounge on the first floor and the main club upstairs with several bars, some seating areas, lots of VIP booth areas, a big dance floor, and outdoor patio, and absolutely not one single inch of personal space.

So of course it’s insanely popular, always packed, and the kind of place people are dying to get into (the VIP guest list line on the night I visited was about 50 people long and I couldn’t see the end of the line for the non-VIP folks). I’m not a fan of this particular genre of nightclub to begin with but I am convinced that there are others (like Body English, Rain, and Pure) that do it better but it all comes down to a matter of personal taste in the end. If you’re into the see and be seen kind of party all night action this place should definitely be on your to-do list.
http://www.vegas4visitors.com/column/index.htm
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Las Vegas Q and A By Rick Garman

Question: We’re heading to Vegas in August and I know that it gets very hot. Do you have any tips for staying cool?

Answer: Thanks for the question, Leslie. I’m going to answer it with another exclusive excerpt from the Moon Handbooks Las Vegas, a new travel guide book that I have written. Enjoy:

How to Beat the Heat

The time of year when most people take their vacations is unfortunately one of the worst times to visit Las Vegas: summer. Temperatures hover at or well above 100 degrees from late May through early September with 110 or even 120 degree days not uncommon in July and August. And I don’t care what anyone says about it being a “dry heat.” 120 degrees is roughly the same temperature at which meat begins to cook so rationalize it anyway you want, it’s really, really hot.

Luckily there are several good ways to avoid getting yourself baked. The first, and most obvious, is to not go outside. And no, that doesn’t mean you can never leave your hotel. The bulk of what you’re going to want to do is indoors anyway so let’s look at this from a real world perspective. You get up in your nice, air-conditioned room, have breakfast in one of the nice, air-conditioned restaurants, spend awhile losing little Johnny’s tuition in the nice, air-conditioned casino, and do a little shopping with whatever is left over in the nice, air-conditioned adjoining mall or shopping gallery. Then you go out to the covered parking garage where you can jump in your car and blast the nice air conditioning until you make it to your next destination where you can eat lunch, do some more gambling, visit a museum, or what have you. Your total time outside is measured in minutes and I guarantee you’ll be grateful for it.

If you don’t have a car at your disposal you can use the taxis or public transportation systems to get around but that will involve a little bit more “outside time.” Be sure to take advantage of the numerous indoor walkways that connect major hotels. As an example you can get from Mandalay Bay to Luxor to Excalibur without ever stepping foot outside.

Effective planning is also a key to staying cool. Focus your activities during the day on things you can do inside and/or in one localized area. For instance, if you plan one day to see everything on the southern end of The Strip you can make the quick jaunts from hotel to hotel and attraction to attraction without risking major sunburn. If you have outdoor activities, try to schedule them for the cooler nighttime hours.

Lastly, make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen and water with you wherever you go. Blocking out the sun’s rays with a simple lotion and keeping yourself hydrated between stints at the slot machines will go along way toward making your vacation memorable for good reasons rather than bad.

“Remember that time we went to Vegas and I got sunstroke?”

Question: Are there any good museums in Las Vegas? I know that’s not why most people go there, but I try to hit at least one museum in every city I visit so why should Las Vegas be any different?

Answer: It kind of depends on your definition of museum. If you are looking for a traditional experience, there are a couple of fantastic facilities in town.

The Las Vegas Art Museum is a few miles from The Strip but totally worth the drive. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute so the exhibits, events, and showings are all first rate running the gamut from minimalism to whatever the opposite of minimalism is.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum is a fun facility showcasing everything from dinosaurs to local flora and fauna. Much of the focus is on the Nevada region but they have a wide enough view of things to make it worth the while.

If you’re looking for more local color, check out The Clark County Heritage Museum, a fascinating complex that helps to explain how the city became what it is, from its early railroad days into the gambling era and more. They even have fully restored homes and buildings from the early days of the city on display.

If you are simply an art lover and don’t care about the size of the building in which it rests there are two terrific galleries right on The Strip. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art features rotating exhibits of all different styles and the Guggenheim/Hermitage gallery at The Venetian boasts works from the parent museums in New York and Russia, some of which are rarely seen outside of those particular venues.

But of course this is Vegas, so if you don’t mind broadening your definition of museum there’s always the Liberace Museum. It should be on the “must” list of every Las Vegas visitor.

You can get more information on these and other museums plus other great things to do in Las Vegas in the Attractions section of Vegas4Visitors.com.

Source: www.vegas4visitors.com
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Slain rapper stars in wax.

While the Las Vegas police stance against gangsta rap has made national headlines in recent weeks, an icon of the genre, whose 1996 slaying near the Strip remains unsolved, is now immortalized not far from where he was gunned down.

By popular demand, Tupac Shakur is the new star attraction at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas in The Venetian. A $200,000 sculpture of the rap star was unveiled Wednesday as Shakur’s aunt and sister looked on.

The sculpture, which took six months to complete, depicts Shakur as he often appeared in concert: a bandana tied around his head, baggy blue jeans worn low enough to reveal the top of his boxer shorts and a bare chest to showcase tattoos.

More from “The Las Vegas Review Journal” here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-06-Thu-2006/news/6735708.html
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THE STRIP: After lots of talks, Riviera sold.
By Chris Jones from the LVRJ.

The Riviera’s parent company on Thursday said it agreed to sell the 2,070-room hotel-casino after several months of on-again, off-again negotiations.

The buyer, an upper-end private investment group known as Riv Acquisition Holdings, will pay $426.5 million for the Riviera and its 26-acre site on the north Strip. The price includes the assumption of $215 million in Riviera Holdings Corp. debt.

Riv Acquisition Holdings President Scott Butera said Thursday the company will not raze the Riviera but keep it open while improvements occur. Entertainment and conventions should remain key elements of the resort.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-07-Fri-2006/business/6743241.html
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SHOW REVIEW: “Dragapella”

The Sicks’ Sense: Kinsey Sicks’ ‘Dragapella’ has a knack for political bite, raunchy humor. By Mike Weatherford

“Dragapella” is an off-Broadway show in a city where there’s no such thing as “off-Broadway.” Maybe this is not so bad.

On one hand, you figure that as the number of Las Vegas shows now teeters around 75, not all of them have to be for all people. “Dragapella,” with its political bite and raunchy, sometimes sick humor, falls on a short list of titles that would appeal to what one could call, in shorthand terms, ” ‘The Daily Show’ crowd.”

The four queens who comprise the Kinsey Sicks bypass the Vegas-drag protocol of Whitney and Cher impressions to say what’s on their sagging chests: “Be a tramp, be a ho!” they sing — very well, by the way — in a mock-gospel ditty. (Not that Cher wouldn’t be down with that.)

what: “Dragapella”
when: 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
where: Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road
tickets: $50.75
rating: A-

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-07-Fri-2006/weekly/6721787.html
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PLAYER’S EDGE: Palms unveils its spring giveaway

The Palms’ $150,000 Spring Cash Giveaway begins today. At 7 p.m. every Thursday ($10,000 given away), Friday ($15,000) and Saturday ($15,000) through April 29, the casino will draw 10 Club Palms card numbers. Winners have 90 seconds to claim prizes. At 7 p.m. April 30, all unclaimed prizes will be awarded. The electronic drum will be emptied after the drawings on Saturday and April 15th and 22. All NSU Deuces Wild as well as Full Pay video poker machines are excluded. You must swipe your card by 6:55 p.m. on the day of a drawing to be eligible.

More “Player’s Edge” here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-07-Fri-2006/weekly/6711747.html
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Upcoming Las Vegas Entertainment

Madonna will bring her “Confessions Tour” to the MGM Grand Garden arena on May 27. Tickets cost $75, $175, $265 and $375 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MGM Grand box office, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Gangsta rap forebear Ice Cube will hit the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on May 27. General admission tickets cost $30 advance, $32 day of show and reserved seats cost $35. They go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the House of Blues box office, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Alt-rock radio fixtures the Goo Goo Dolls will play the Sandbar at Red Rock Station on May 13. Tickets are $78 and $165.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the venue box office, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.

Classic rock stalwarts Foreigner will play the outdoor amphitheater at Sunset Station on June 9. Tickets are $25.75, $34, $42.25 and $50.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sunset Station front desk, 1301 W. Sunset Road, Henderson.

The lineup for the 2006 “Stars on the Lake” outdoor concert series at the Lake Las Vegas Resort has been announced. Tickets for all of the following shows go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the Village Gold Shop at Lake Las Vegas Resort, 1600 Lake Las Vegas Parkway, Henderson, and Ticketmaster outlets:

Hard-edged pop rockers Heart will perform on May 12. General admission tickets are $49.95, VIP tickets are $89.95.

Eighties favorites Hall & Oates will play June 24. General admission tickets are $49.95, VIP tickets are $89.95.

Adult contemporary star Christopher Cross will perform June 24. General admission tickets are $29.95, VIP tickets are $59.95.

Vintage pop pianist Michael Feinstein will hit the venue Sept. 8. General admission tickets are $39.95, VIP tickets are $69.95.

Contemporary jazz trumpeter Chris Botti will play Sept. 16. General admission tickets are $39.95, VIP tickets are $69.95.

Silky smooth pop crooner Seal will close out the series on Sept. 30. General admission tickets are $49.95, VIP tickets are $100.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - TICKETS
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Opaque sexuality lurks in the shadows
By Justin Jimenez

Shadow
Where: Caesars Palace
When: Monday - Thursday, 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. - 3 a.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. - 3 a.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Info: (702) 731-7110

Now there is never a reason to be afraid of the dark. Silhouetted sexuality percolates through scrims that encapsulate Shadow Bar at Caesars Palace, making an evening cocktail a dangerous thing if you start a bar tab. The living screens leave very little to the imagination as voluptuous dancers take full advantage of the lighted contour, ensuring beer is the least appealing thing in the room. Hard to walk away, impossible to turn your head, sipping beverages requires a bib as patrons constantly miss the target; all pupils dilated on faceless but fully visible bodies prancing behind the intimate lounge. The vibe is hard to place, touting influences from Asia to Amsterdam, a casino bar but far beyond Vegas.

Even the drink menu screams to the exotic. Liquor comes in the form of Blue Bawls, Liquid Latex and Doggie Dew to kick-start the evening — just in case the translucent one-millimeter-thick screen separating you from naked gorgeous women wasn’t keeping your attention.

The sultry ambiance soothes the evening but a dichotomous energy explodes from the bartenders. Armed with some of the best flair performers in the city, bottles spin, glasses pierce the air and garnishes find a way to become interesting. As the cocktail performers turn pouring alcohol into an art form, it becomes increasingly awkward for the straight males in the room, their attention now split between the men making the drinks and the nude beautiful women just feet away.

There is no cover and usually no line, but as it gets late seating can be limited. Regardless, the convenience and lack of the increasing Vegas-mob fuss make it a great place to begin the evening without sacrificing that desired Sin City feel. The superb location next to the Pussycat Dolls Lounge and Pure nightclub makes it ideal foreplay for those craving a wild early morning dancing adventure, but the dynamic yet clandestine feeling makes it a destination by itself.

Ensuring there is no valid excuse to leave, a divine selection of alluring bites are available without leaving your seat or turning your head. Leaning toward a menu of wet origin, sushi platters, smoked salmon, fresh oysters, crab cakes and beluga caviar are made to order. Fresh fruits and cheeses can be had among other bar nibbles.

Food and bartenders: Both are fabulous, but at the end of the night it is the keystone of the Shadow Girls that glues the whole experience together. For those too shy to stare at Scores (or too proud to shell out a twenty to be that close to bare cleavage) the divider provides just the right amount of anonymity to ogle, sip and socialize. Shadow boxing not encouraged.
Source: Las Vegas Magazine
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Remember that one place?

BY BRIAN ROUFF
On a recent Sunday morning, as my wife and I embarked on our weekly search for the perfect breakfast, we started reminiscing about all the places that have closed over the years. Before we knew it, we were knee deep in nostalgia. It didn’t help that we were passing the former Desert Inn Road location of the once-charming Country Inn, now a cookie-cutter ugly CVS Pharmacy. Couldn’t they at least have kept the babbling brook?

We’ve lived here since 1981, which makes us old-timers by local standards. We’ve seen plenty of changes during that quarter-century. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not one of those guys who thinks everything was better in the old days. On the other hand, living in Las Vegas is like being caught in some bizarro world of time-lapse photography. In any event, here’s my partial list of former favorites, now relegated to the mists of my imperfect memory.

Manfredi’s Limelight. An upscale family-owned Italian restaurant on East Tropicana Avenue. The Manfredis always made us feel at home, right down to the squabbles emanating from the kitchen. Sometime in the mid-’90s, they lost their lease, moved to a new location in the Algiers hotel, and eventually closed up shop for good. I still miss their chicken Angelo.

Nick’s Supper Club. A Henderson institution, from the mile-long list of daily specials to the six-foot -something waitress known as “Giraffe.” Owner Nick Lathuris was a character right out of central casting. Legend has it he fired the band one night by shooting his revolver into the ceiling. Nick also originated Henderson’s annual Greek festival, where I had my first succulent taste of goat and (possibly) camel kidney.

Huey’s Saloon. I used to sell advertising for K-RAM radio, a long-gone country station. Our after-work hangout was Huey’s Saloon on Maryland Parkway, now home of Champagne’s Café. Huey’s had everything you could ask for in a neighborhood bar: attentive servers, generous drinks and Vegas’ best hamburger. Plus, it was dark enough to make everyone look good.

Celebrity Deli. A recent addition to the scrap heap. For my money, Celebrity was the first truly authentic New York-style deli in Las Vegas. (Foxy’s and Jamie’s don’t count.) A Washington Mutual now occupies their space in the Target Center at Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. The last time I was there, I could swear I smelled corned beef.

Alpine Village. Before Hofbrauhaus, there was Alpine Village, a faux chalet on Paradise Road across from the Hilton. I don’t remember much about the food, but I can still taste their chicken soup, served molten-hot in a pewter bowl. Although the place has been closed for years, you can still find dozens of websites devoted to that soup recipe.

Carlos Murphy’s Mexican-Irish Pub. Tommy Rocker’s original stomping grounds hosted an eclectic blend of UNLV students, young business types and married guys on the make. Now called Moose’s Beach House.

I could go on and on. So could you. That’s part of the wistful appeal. Here in Las Vegas, the implosions get all the headlines. But it’s the smaller, quieter closings that do the real damage. Fortunately, other old-time joints endure. Be sure to check out Hugo’s Cellar, the lunch counters at White Cross Drugs and the Huntridge Pharmacy, and Bob Taylor’s Ranch House, to name a few. But don’t wait too long.

BRIAN ROUFF IS AUTHOR OF THE LAS VEGAS NOVEL MONEY SHOT, Dice Angel and a newsletter/forum member.
Source of article:
www.lasvegaslife.com
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Posted on April 7th, 2006 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter